Alzheimer’s Germ Quest Challenge Award
Terms and Conditions, and Rules
Application Period Closed
By using this site or participating in any of its offerings, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, and Rules.
Purpose
Alzheimer’s Germ Quest, Inc., (the Sponsor) is engaged in activities to accelerate research progress on finding the root cause of Alzheimer’s disease, especially whether or not an infectious microbe, known or as yet unknown, is the principal agent. As part of these efforts, the Sponsor is conducting a Challenge Award competition for scientists, with monetary reward(s), to stimulate and inspire competitors to find, assemble and submit persuasive scientific evidence of what is sought.
Medical Disclaimer
You acknowledge and agree that neither the Sponsor nor its website is engaged in providing medical advice or care. Please consult your own physician for these. Two excellent sources of information on Alzheimer’s disease are the Alzheimer’s Association, and the National Institute on Aging (part of the National Institutes of Health).
What will win this Challenge?
Briefly, the winner must present concise persuasive proof, in English, that a particular infectious microbe, known or new, is the root cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Mere presence of an organism in the nervous system is not sufficient. Other convincing supplementary evidence must be provided. Examples of such for other diseases have included demonstration of a relevant antigen, antibody or microbial nucleic acid in affected patients, but not in unaffected ones. Also, changes over time from a baseline of these or other factors have been shown in individual patients, often from inception of infection to recovery or death. Unusual and non-conventional evidence is also welcome. Human data are required; animal models are not sufficient, but can be supplementary.
What is not sought
The emphasis in this competition is on persuasive evidence of a scientific nature, especially objective data, well presented and explained. Thus, other types of submissions cannot be accepted, and if submitted will not be considered further or acknowledged, in the sole discretion of the Sponsor. These include opinion pieces, theories, assertions, polemics, reviews, reprints with little additional explanation, case histories, negative results, and the like. Animal models, though worthy for some purposes, are not sufficient but can be supplementary.
Challenge awards are not grants
Challenge awards, also known as incentive awards, are very different from the usual research grant or contract. Those latter entities, which predominate in research, support new or continuing investigations, with the hope that somewhere in the future, be it months or years, targeted goals or useful information will actually be attained.
In contrast, the challenge award, which usually includes a monetary prize, is given to a researcher, explorer, or other competitor who already has made the desired discovery or accomplished a sought goal. Examples include a prize for first solo flight across the Atlantic, and one for discovering a biomarker to measure the status of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). This “challenge award” tactic is now well accepted, and is being widely employed to good effect by the U.S. government and by private organizers.
Who may enter
Entrants must be at least 18 years of age, and may be citizens or residents of any country legally allowed to enter this competition and send information to, or exchange it with, the United States. It is anticipated most entrants will be scientists, but that is not an absolute requirement.
Preliminary expression of interest (PEI) required first
Entries will be accepted only from potential Competitors who have first submitted the required PEI, and who have subsequently been officially approved and invited to submit an official entry to the competition. Only those PEI submissions deemed relevant and harmonious with Challenge purposes, in the sole discretion of the Sponsor, will be invited to submit a subsequent Entry. Entries must be submitted by email, to: entry@ALZgerm.org. In case of questions, contact info@ALZgerm.org. Submitting a PEI is not binding, does not create a formal relationship, and carries no further obligation. A submittal may be withdrawn or canceled at any time.
Submitter must have authority
Anyone submitting a PEI, or a subsequent Entry (if invited), must have the authority to submit these items on behalf of themselves or any other others involved. For an invited Entry, the submitter must affirm and agree that the entry is authorized by all concerned with it, that it accurately describes ownership of, and individual contributions to, the information presented, and that the submitter is free to disclose the information. The Sponsor may require additional information of any type from any submitter of a PEI or an Entry.
Deadlines
All submissions must be made via email, to: entry@ALZgerm.org. PEI must be received by 5 PM Eastern Standard Time (U.S.) on December 31, 2019. Earlier submission is encouraged. Official Entries from those subsequently invited to submit such must be received by 5 PM Eastern Standard Time (U.S.) on December 31, 2020. No extensions can be granted.
Judging entries
The individual, team, entity, or institution that wins any award in this Alzheimer’s Germ Quest Challenge competition will be determined by an independent expert judging committee known as the Challenge Board (now in formation by the Sponsor). Only entries invited after submission of a PEI will be considered by the Sponsor. The assessment and judging of authorized Entries will take place, at the latest, January 1-March 31, 2021. The winning Awardee (s), if any, will be announced no later than April 15, 2021. If unusually persuasive evidence is presented before the mandated deadline for judging, the Board and Sponsor, in their sole discretion, may select and announce an Awardee at an earlier date, and terminate the Challenge. All decisions of the Board and Sponsor are final, and may not be appealed.
Awards
The principal Award for the Challenge winner is $1 million dollars U.S. Partial awards may be given at the discretion of the Challenge Board, or if no Entry is deemed sufficiently persuasive no Award will be given. All authorized Entrants will be notified of the Board’s decisions. Determinations by the Challenge Board and Sponsor are final, and in their sole discretion, and may not be appealed for any reason.
Legal, Taxes, Publicity
Payment of an Award will be made in U.S. dollars to a designated recipient, who must be legally able to receive such. All taxes and similar fees are the responsibility of the Awardee. All Awardees agree to cooperate with, and participate in, Sponsor publicity about, and ceremonies recognizing, an Award, including use of their name and image.
Intellectual Property
The Sponsor makes no claim on any intellectual property revealed or submitted by any PEI submitter, entrant or Awardee. Its sole interest is to accelerate research into the possible role of a microbe in Alzheimer’s disease. A PEI submitter, or subsequent Entrant, must be legally free to reveal all information presented. Confidential, proprietary and/or highly personal information should not be submitted, and the Sponsor takes no responsibility for such.
No warranties
The services on this site and in this Award Challenge are provided “as is”. Neither the Sponsor, the Board, nor the website makes any warranties or guarantees, expressed or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, respecting any information found on this site or elsewise in this Challenge.
Limitation of liability
ALZgerm.org and/or Alzheimer’s Germ Quest, Inc. shall not be liable to you for any damages, claims, expenses or other costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) you suffer or incur as a result of third party claims relating to your use of this site or participation in this challenge award program. Under no circumstances will ALZgerm.org and/or Alzheimer’s Germ Quest, Inc. be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential damages or for any damages in excess of $100 regardless of the cause. You agree that you will be responsible for, and at ALZgerm.org and/or Alzheimer’s Germ Quest, Inc. request, defend either or both of them from, third party claims arising out of information you provide to either or both for their internal use and/or for publication, or from any breach by you of these terms.
You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to participation in this challenge program, or use of this website, must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action accrues, or be forever barred.
Third-party links
This Site may contain links to websites operated by third-parties other than ALZgerm.org. Such links are provided for reference only and neither the Sponsor nor ALZgerm.org controls such Web sites and is not responsible for their contents. Inclusion of links to such Web sites does not imply any endorsement of the material on such Web sites or any association with their operators.
May be updated without notice
These Terms and Conditions, and Rules, may be updated without prior notice, and the most recent version shall be determinative, in the sole discretion of the Sponsor.
Applicable law
The use of the website and any of the applications or programs offered through ALZgerm.org, and the interpretation of these Terms of Use and Conditions, and Rules, shall be governed by and enforced in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Florida, and the venue for any dispute shall be Collier County, Florida.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the Terms and Conditions, and/or Rules, please contact us at info@ALZgerm.org.